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Real Madrid have confirmed the appointment of former midfielder Xabi Alonso as the club’s new head coach, with the Spaniard set to take over from 1 June 2025 on a three-year deal.
The 43-year-old will succeed veteran Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, who is departing to take charge of the Brazilian national team. Alonso will lead the side into the 2025 Club World Cup and is expected to be officially unveiled on Monday morning.
“Xabi Alonso will be the Real Madrid coach for the next three seasons, from 1 June 2025 until 30 June 2028,” read a statement from the club. “Alonso is one of the biggest legends at Real Madrid and in world football.”
The former Spain international leaves Bayer Leverkusen after an impressive campaign in which he guided the German side to an unbeaten Bundesliga title and German Cup triumph. His tactical acumen and ability to build cohesive, disciplined teams have made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young managers.
Real Madrid had long been linked with Alonso, who made 236 appearances for Los Blancos between 2009 and 2014, winning six trophies during his spell. He was part of the side that captured the club’s historic 10th Champions League title, although he was suspended for the final.
Alonso reportedly had a clause in his Leverkusen contract allowing him to depart for one of his former clubs, including Real Madrid, Liverpool, or Bayern Munich.
Despite Ancelotti’s glittering legacy at the Bernabéu – including 15 trophies and three Champions League titles – his final season proved disappointing. Madrid were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Arsenal, and lost both the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals to Barcelona. Xavi’s side also reclaimed the La Liga title, leaving Real without a major domestic trophy.
Alonso will inherit a star-studded squad, including Kylian Mbappé, who scored 31 La Liga goals following his high-profile arrival. However, the challenge lies in creating a balanced system that accommodates both Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior without sacrificing defensive solidity. This season, Madrid fell to 14 defeats after losing just twice the previous year.
Since retiring in 2017, Alonso has coached within the youth setups at Real Madrid and Real Sociedad before taking the reins at Leverkusen in 2022. With a stellar playing career under legendary coaches such as Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque, he brings a rich pedigree and deep tactical insight to the role.
Real Madrid have already begun reshaping their squad, signing Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, and are expected to bring in Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer.
Alonso’s first major test will come at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup this summer. Real Madrid open their campaign on 18 June in Miami against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, giving fans the first glimpse of Alonso’s vision for the team.
